LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University softball team ran into a pair of tough matchups Sunday dropping both games to Colorado Christian, 11-3 and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, 8-0, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pod play action.


Colorado Christian University (CCU) started early, plating four in the first and would later add three in the third and two in the fourth for a 9-0 leading heading into the fifth.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) had to score at least two runs to keep the game going and the offense would come alive with two outs following an error. After Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) reached on an error, Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) singled to center to load the bases as Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) reached earlier on a fielder's choice. Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singled to shortstop to drive in the first run. Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) followed with a full-count single up the middle to score both Higgins and McDonald to bring WNMU (17-28, 14-20 RMAC) within six, 9-3.


CCU ended the game in the home half coming through with two runs on three doubles for the 11-3 run-rule win.


CCU held a 15-8 edge in hits, with McDonald collecting two hits, while Gentry led in RBI with two.


Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) pitched the first three innings and ended up with the loss (9-13), giving up nine earned. Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) tossed the final inning giving up two earned.


Genevieve Reyna picked up her 15^th win (15-10) of the season for CCU, as she allowed three unearned runs in the victory.


In the second game against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), the Mountain Lions used strong pitching and timely hitting to come away with the victory.


UCCS opened the scoring with a run in the first and then it would remain that way into the fourth. In the top of the inning, the Lady Mustangs threatened getting singles from Gahn and Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School), but a groundout ended the inning. The Mountain Lions then scored five runs on six hits in the home half to take a 6-0 lead.


UCCS then closed the game with two in the fifth on three hits to take the run-rule victory, 8-0.


Becca Smith kept WNMU off-balance in the circle, as she allowed just two hits and had three strikeouts to take the win (14-7) going all five innings. BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) took the loss (7-11) for WNMU, as she allowed four earned runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. Shone tossed the final .2 innings, allowing four earned.


WNMU is still in a battle for the final two RMAC Tournament spots heading into the final weekend. Chadron State was in seventh entering the weekend and didn't play any games as their field was unplayable due to snow leaving them still at 12-15 and are now in eighth. Fort Lewis swept Black Hills State to jump from ninth to seventh with a 15-17 mark and the Lady Mustangs are currently in ninth as the top eight teams make the tournament.


WNMU will close the regular season at home this weekend when they will face Adams State University for a four game set beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. It will also be senior weekend for Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) and Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School).